Life preserver

Abstract

This invention relates to a life preserver 10 that a person may wear that includes a body portion which includes an inflatable front panel 11 connected to an inflatable rear panel 12 , said front and rear panels adapted to cover a substantial part of the wearer's torso. The life preserver also includes a gas container 45 filled with gas for inflating the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12. Preferably the buoyancy exhibited by the upper part of said body portion is substantially greater than that of the lower part of said body portion when inflated.

The claims of the invention are as follows:  
     
         1 . A life preserver that a person may wear, said life preserver including: 
 a body portion that is adapted to cover a substantial part of the person's torso, said body portion having an upper part and a lower part and wherein said upper part when inflated exhibits greater buoyancy than said lower part when inflated;    a container that is capable of storing a gas under pressure, said container being attached to said body portion and having an outlet in fluid communication with said body portion, and    an actuator operably connected to said container which when actuated shall release gas stored in said container for the purpose of inflating said body portion.    
     
     
         2 . A life preserver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said body portion includes an inflatable front panel and an inflatable rear panel, said front and rear panels each being adapted to cover a substantial part of the person's torso, said front and rear panels each having an upper part and a lower part and wherein said upper part when inflated exhibits greater buoyancy than said lower part when inflated.  
     
     
         3 . A life preserver as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the buoyancy of both said front and rear panels when inflated increases incrementally in the direction of the person's head.  
     
     
         4 . A life preserver as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the buoyant forces acting on the front panel are slightly greater than those acting on the rear panel whereby the user's body is supported in a rearwardly inclined, though substantially vertically orientated, attitude.  
     
     
         5 . A life preserver as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein inflation of said front and/or said rear panel is achieved by inflating a bladder that is loosely retained within said panel and wherein the lower edge portion of said blader is releasably secured to a lower edge portion of said panel.  
     
     
         6 . A life preserver as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the bladder is constructed from opposing layers of an impermeable material and wherein a piece of transitional material is located between and is welded to the edges of said lower edge portion, and wherein one or more fasteners are secured to or otherwise engage an exposed or free portion of said transitional material.  
     
     
         7 . A life preserver as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein there is provided deflation apparatus for deflating said body portion.  
     
     
         8 . A life preserver that a person may wear, said life preserver including: 
 a body portion that is adapted, to cover a substantial part of the person's torso, said body portion having an upper part and a lower part and wherein said upper part when inflated exhibits greater buoyancy than said lower part when inflated;    a container that is capable of storing a gas under pressure, said container being attached to said body portion and having an outlet in fluid communication with said body portion, and    an actuator operably connected to said container which when actuated shall release gas stored in said container for the purpose of inflating said body portion.    
     
     
         9 . A life preserver as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the buoyant forces acting on the front panel are slightly greater than those acting on the rear panel whereby the user's body is supported in a rearwardly inclined, though substantially vertically orientated, attitude.  
     
     
         10 . A life preserver that includes an inflatable panel and wherein inflation is achieved by inflating a bladder that is loosely retained within said panel and wherein the lower edge portion of said bladder is releasably secured to a lower edge portion of said panel.  
     
     
         11 . A life preserver as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bladder is constructed from opposing layers of an impermeable material and wherein a piece of transitional material is located between and is welded to the edges of said lower edge portion, and wherein one or more fasteners are secured to or otherwise engage an exposed or free portion of said transitional material.